15 Easy Freezer Meals for When You’re Short on Time

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In this fast-paced world where everyone’s on the go and juggling a million responsibilities. That means many of us don’t have time or energy to spend making three nutritious meals a day, let alone a healthy weeknight dinner. But this is where meal prep comes to save the day!

Instead of having to cook every single day, you can make a huge batch of meals to freeze and enjoy later on. Some people cook for an entire week, while others can cook enough for a month. It only takes a whole day and the right recipes that are deemed “freezable.”

“Freezer meals” don’t need to be considered unhealthy anymore, especially when plan ahead and use healthy ingredients. If you feel overwhelmed with meal prep and the array of dishes to make, don’t fret. We’ve got you covered with our list of 15 easy healthy freezer meals you and the family can enjoy.

 

More delicious and healthy recipe ideas for you:

• 20 Easy and Healthy Weeknight Dinners
• 15 Easy and Healthy Noodle Recipes for Weeknights
• 20 Easy and Healthy Lunch Ideas for Work
• 15 Easy and Healthy Breakfast Ideas For Busy Mornings

 

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1. Sweet Potato Beef Stew

Instant Pots are the secret sidekicks of meal preppers everywhere, and what better way to kickstart your culinary capers than with a beef stew that practically cooks itself? In goes the beef, and out comes a dish so tender it practically swoons on the fork, accompanied by carrots and potatoes in a state of melt-in-your-mouth bliss. And the soup? It’s like a deliciously hearty pool in which your ingredients take a sumptuous swim, with beef stock and fresh herbs doing a flavor tango that’s perfectly balanced.

 

2. Crockpot Lasagna

The Crockpot is another lifesaver in the kitchen because you won’t have to spend all day cooking. You can make hundreds of easy Crockpot recipes for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and even dessert!

Simply prepare the ingredients, assemble them on the Crockpot, and let it cook until you get a beautiful, cheesy masterpiece. It only takes half an hour to make this lasagna, with the rest of the cooking time done as you go about your day.

You can make this lasagna healthier by using ground chicken or turkey or make it vegetarian-friendly by using tofu. There’s even an option to throw in mushrooms, spinach, and even broccoli, making it a more nutritious meal without the presence of veggies being obvious for the kids.

 

3. Thai Peanut Chicken Satay

This recipe sounds exotic and complicated but it’s actually so easy to make, using a slow cooker or instant pot. Have a bowl of steaming hot rice with this chicken satay and your mouth will explode with flavor! It’s rich, nutty, slightly tangy, and filled with spices.

Make it ahead for your future lunches or dinners. Fortunately, they are easy to freeze and reheat when ready to eat. Plus, most of the ingredients are part of any healthy grocery list for those on a budget.

 

4. Shredded Chicken Tacos

Is it Taco Tuesday? Even if it isn’t, any day is the perfect time to enjoy flavorful tacos! The Crockpot saves the day again, as you can get tender, juicy, shredded chicken without dealing with the hassle of cooking. This recipe uses only five ingredients and five minutes of prep time, and you can make a huge batch for the next taco nights to come.

We don’t recommend assembling these tacos and freezing them with the wrapper, though. You can only freeze the shredded chicken and heat them up to assemble it on your taco shell and favorite toppings.

 

5. Instant Pot Chicken and Rice Soup

This isn’t your classic bowl of chicken noodle soup, but it’s made better for those who love rice! You’ll use brown rice here as it has similar cooking times to chicken, and because it also offers numerous antioxidants and nutrients for optimum health.

The Instant Pot saves the day by reducing the time and effort spent in the kitchen. This chicken and rice soup recipe are hearty and filling, only taking ten minutes of active prep time. After the soup has cooled down, you can freeze it to consume later.

 

6. Chicken Pesto Meatballs

Meatballs may sound like a “boring” meal, but it’s actually filling and can be made delicious. This recipe is simple yet filled with so much flavor that suits any palate, made from chicken, a leaner meat and protein source. It’s also versatile, as you can pair it with any side dish, whether it’s over pasta, with rice, mashed potatoes, you name it!

Pour these chicken meatballs with pesto to enrich the meal, and it’s ready for everyone to enjoy. You can freeze the meatballs in a freezer bag and simply reheat them in your oven or microwave to enjoy them again.

 

7. Mac and Cheese

Who DOESN’T like mac and cheese? Anyone can have this for their lunches or dinners every day. But let’s not stick to the instant version and make it more nutritious so you can get the nutrients you need for the day while still enjoying your favorite comfort food.

This is a lighter recipe made with fewer calories, as it uses reduced fat cheddar cheese, skim milk, chicken broth, baby spinach, and less butter than usual. Even with the ingredient swaps, it doesn’t taste “light” at all!

 

8. Easy Vegetarian Chili

Running out of ideas on what to meal prep for you or the entire family? Everyone will be smacking their lips and asking for seconds with this easy vegetarian chili recipe. Make a huge batch so when they ask for it again for their next lunch or dinner, all you need to do is take the meal out of the freezer and reheat it for a few minutes.

The vegetarian-friendly dish is made with wholesome ingredients that boost your energy. It’s also perfect for the fall season as you use seasonal veggies. Adding to that, you’ll definitely appreciate a warm bowl of chili over rice or with bread when the weather cools down.

 

9. Veggie Soup

If you’re trying to eat lighter during dinner and don’t want to skip the meal entirely, then a bowl of soup is a good option. But hold off opening a can of premade soup! You can just make a huge pot of it to freeze and reheat for future dinners instead.

This veggie soup recipe is not your ordinary kind of soup. It’s a vegan and paleo-friendly dish that pairs well with salads, bread, or crackers. Soup doesn’t need to feel so boring, especially with this dish’s thick consistency and overload of wholesome ingredients.

 

10. Vegetarian Black Bean Enchiladas

These enchiladas are vegetarian-friendly and filled with protein from black beans. It’s also packed with veggies and considered a good recipe to start your journey to a plant-based diet.

These aren’t only easy to make and affordable and can be frozen for hassle-free meal preps!

 

11. Healthy Quiche

Move over, cereal and milk! Instead of going for quick, instant breakfasts to start your morning, you can just make healthy quiches to freeze and reheat the moment you wake up.

This is a crustless quiche packed with vegetables and cheese. As a result, you get a fluffy consistency with savory goodness and a light crunch from the onions and bell peppers.

 

12. Balsamic Rosemary Chicken

This recipe sounds so fancy but don’t be fooled! It only takes 45 minutes to create this fantastic freezer meal. The tanginess of the blackberry balsamic glaze is the perfect match to the juicy chicken thighs, topped with fresh rosemary for a slightly earthy taste.

Now, you can boast of elegant, mouthwatering meals for work lunches without having to put so much effort into them.

 

13. Broccoli Tuna Casserole

Keto dieters, rejoice! There is a creamy casserole recipe waiting for you in the kitchen. This is one of the creamiest tuna casseroles that include broccoli for added nutrition. The creamy cheese, tuna, and fresh broccoli go so well together, making it a favorite comfort food without the guilt.

You can make batches of these to freeze for future lunches, whether for work or school. The protein you get from the cheese and tuna, along with the nutrients from the broccoli, can get you up and go for the day.

 

14. Keto Chaffle Pizza

A chaffle is an amazing invention from keto dieters, combining two favorite things: Cheese and waffles. This recipe gives you the best chaffle without the carbs, where you won’t need to sacrifice your love for pizza to maintain your diet. You can create dozens of these to freeze and enjoy as breakfast, lunch, dinner, or snack!

 

15. Southwest Turkey Burgers

Good news – burgers can also be a freezer meal so you can enjoy a juicy burger without having to take an hour making one from scratch. Nor will you need to go to a fast food joint, because this recipe shows you a healthier version of a popular dish.

These turkey burgers are filled with lean protein and vegetables, though you have room for customization on the sauce and toppings. You can have this on its own or with a side of fries to make it a complete meal!